Google takes aim at Canva and Adobe as its AI image editor Pics gets an official rollout date | Daily Reports Online
- Google Pics is rolling out to Google Workspace users starting August 18
- Pics lets you generate and edit images within Google Workspace apps like Slides, Docs, Sheets and more
- Generative AI usage limits will apply starting February 2027
Google Pics, the AI-powered image-generation and editing application the search giant unveiled at Google I/O earlier this year, is set to go live widely across Google Workspace business and education accounts in August, after just three months of testing as an ‘experiment’ in Gemini Alpha.
Google said the rollout will start from August 18 to users within organisations who hold Workspace subscriptions:
- Google Workspace Business Standard
- Google Workspace Business Plus
- Google Workspace Enterprise Standard
- Google Workspace Enterprise Plus
- Google Workspace AI Expanded Access
- Google AI Pro for Education
Built on Google’s own Nano Banana imaging model, Pics will exist as both a standalone web app and be integrated directly within Workspace apps such as Slides, Docs and Sheets, and its key features include letting users generate images using text prompts, manipulate individual elements within images, edit or translate text, swap elements out for new ones and more.
These tools are aimed at addressing some of the more common shortcomings of AI-generated images — like objects not being at scale, text being misspelled (or complete gibberish), and elements potentially clashing with the background image.
Initially, Pics will only be available to Google’s business and education customers, and as a product, it certainly seems to be taking aim at a variety of digital-imaging heavyweights such as Adobe — particularly its Adobe Express online image editor – and Canva, as well as stock-image sites like Shutterstock and iStock.
Pics will directly compete with Canva’s Magic Grab feature (which repositions, resizes and moves objects within images) and Adobe’s built-in background removal tool. By letting users edit images directly within its office apps suite, they won’t need to export assets into external tools.
What changes to expect
Google said Pics will be enabled by default for all Workspace customers as it rolls out, but there will be an option to disable access if desired.
The company added that generative AI usage limits will be implemented as Pics becomes more widely available, though users can expect to enjoy higher-priority access until February 28, 2027.
Google hasn’t yet given any timeline for when Pics could be coming to consumer account holders.
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